We Have a Behavior Analyst Licensure Law. Can’t We Relax Now?
A license is a garden, not a plaque—ignore it and the weeds of repeal take over.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Bourland et al. wrote a position paper. They warned BCBAs not to relax after winning state licensure laws.
The authors tracked how sunset clauses and rule edits can erase hard-won laws. They used real examples from several states.
No clients were tested. The paper is a call-to-action for every certified analyst.
What they found
Licensure can vanish faster than it arrived. Sunset reviews, budget cuts, and quiet rule changes kill bills every year.
Staying silent equals losing ground. Only steady lobbying keeps the BCBA title protected.
How this fits with other research
Lerman (2024) gives you the outreach blueprint. Her paper shows how to package ABA for teachers, cops, and nurses. Use that plan to build the ally list Bourland says you need at the capitol.
Marshall et al. (2023) found many certificants now pick non-ABA autism treatments. This drift weakens the field’s voice. Bourland’s warning makes sense: if we look divided, lawmakers let the license die.
McComas et al. (2025) urge us to dismantle ableism. Their activist tone matches Bourland’s. Both papers say, “Stop waiting—act now.”
Why it matters
Your state license is not a trophy on the shelf. It is a living bill that needs watering every year. Read Bourland, mark the sunset date on your calendar, and set a quarterly reminder to email your representative. One hour a month keeps your credential—and your job—alive.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
This paper details the ongoing actions behavior analysts should be prepared to take to ensure that behavior analyst licensure laws protect the public and behavior analysts. Behavior analysts will want to be aware of these processes to engage with government officials in an informed way relative to any possible changes to the relevant laws and regulations. Although behavior analysts have increasingly become knowledgeable about the processes to pass licensure legislation, they can be unaware of the significant impact that rules for implementing a licensure law can have on their work and the public. Additionally, legislative actions can change or eliminate licensure laws after implementing the original law. Behavior analysts and their collaborating public (i.e., citizens committed to behavior analysis licensure legislation) can be caught off guard if unexpected rules or regulations for implementing licensing laws are proposed and adopted. Years later, behavior analysts may be further surprised by sunset laws that can result in the automatic termination or substantial revision of licensure laws. Although sunset laws may be relevant in many states, those in which most politicians oppose regulation are most at risk for termination of licensure laws despite the initial years of effort and collaboration needed to enact the law. We offer an analysis of these processes and how they impact the public and behavior analysts concerning the practice of behavior analysis. Further, we suggest that behavior analysts address factors relevant to behavior analyst licensure once established.
Behavior Analysis in Practice, 2025 · doi:10.1007/s40617-024-01013-0